Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was met with a mixed response. Fans and critics alike were frustrated by the lack of focus on a newEndgame. One bright spot for many was the Marvel Special PresentationWerewolf by Night. The special offered viewers a fresh story and genre for this well-known universe in a brief 52-minute running time. Fans wondered howWerewolf by Nightwas connected to the larger universe and created theories while being enthralled by the exciting story of misunderstood monsters.
Update June 02, 2025: In honor of the year anniversary ofWerewolf by Night’srelease on Disney+ and its upcoming colored remaster, this article has been updated with more reasons why it has become a Halloween classic.
Werewolf by Nightmanages to subvert expectations by delivering something audiences have not seen before. Marvel’s first Halloween special is a tribute to classic monster and horror movies of the 1930s, but it also ties into more modern horror. The Easter eggs for Marvel fans and non-fans alike are endless. Premiering in the Halloween season gaveWerewolf by Nighta chance to become a new holiday favorite that will rewatched year after year. The special was so popular it is about to bere-released in color on July 07, 2025. Add in Marvel and old monster movie references, and there are lots of cinematic goodies to enjoy!
Few References to the Larger MCU
The plot ofWerewolf by Nightkeeps things relatively simple. A group of monster hunters gather at their deceasedmentor’s house, Bloodstone Manor. What follows is a hunt of Man vs. Beast with some very shocking results. Such a description for an MCU property should explain how contained the story is. Fear not, Marvel fans that does not mean teases of future MCU projects are not scattered throughout! One of the best refers to a team-up of heroes that already seems to be taking shape, The Midnight Sons.
How Werewolf by Night Subverts the Lycanthrope Myth of Classic Movies
The MCU special presentation Werewolf by Night is clothed in the style of classic horror films, but continues an evolution away from the normal myth.
Phase Four of the MCU has featured many more supernatural characters.WandaVisionandDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessexpanded the magical mythology of the franchise, including the introduction of the Darkhold. With Blade on the horizon, it appears the MCU is looking tounite their various monster characters into a team, and this will likely be where Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, and Elsa Bloodstone appear again.
More of An Homage to Classic Monster Movies
Director Michael Giacchino himself recommended differentfilms to watch before the special.Werewolf by Nightis an homage to classicUniversal monster moviesin more ways than one. The special focuses on the use of practical effects, crazy occultist characters, and even a familiar and retro score. The tribe of occultists — led by Verussa, played by actress Harriet Sansom Harris — appears like they are characters fromgothic horrorstories. These references are scattered throughout, with the practical effects being surprisingly realistic. Both Werewolf by Night and Ted/Man-Thing were made up of a combination of CGI and practical effects (viaVariety). Giacchino evenshared a glimpse of the imposing Ted puppeton social media.
Until viewers actually see the titular Werewolf by Night character, the score does the heavy lifting. Having a classical score helps make details, like the gore, respectful tributes to what came before. Similarly to those classic monster movies, the Werewolf is not revealed until late in the special.
Marvel Horror Projects We Hope to See in the MCU
Werewolf by Night has Marvel fans contemplating what other horror projects fans want to see from its horror collective. Here are a few!
Once the hunting and transformations begin, the impressive body horror takes the stage. However, Jack Russell’s transformation into his werewolf form is only shown in bits and pieces. In a spooky, traditional horror fashion, most of the true transformation is seen as a shadow behind a terrified Elsa Bloodstone (played by Laura Donnelly).
Using practical effects for the werewolf’s design is the icing on the cake. In the third act,Werewolf by Nightfeels like a real breathing creature. His design feels like the classic Wolfman himself. Plus, the appearance of blood splatters on the camera lens makes the gore tangible and viewers fearful of the outcome. Even the minute details of the over-the-top performances help make the special feel well-rounded. Running less than an hour does not mean audiences have been slighted by surprises.
Even therecent announcement ofWerewolf by Nightin colorpays homage to a different type of horror film. The original black and white version was a homage to the Universal Monster movies of the 1930s and 40s, including the original Wolfman. The soon-to-be-released color version is a homage to the Hammer Horror films of the 1950s, which were reimaginings of the classic Universal Monsters. These films were known for their bright, vibrant colors and more colorful blood effects.
Werewolf by NightUtilizes Fun Tropes (Horror and Otherwise)
In addition to the classic monster movies of years past,Werewolf by Nightis reminiscent of popular slasher films, such asHalloweenandScream. The concept of picking off the other monster hunters one by one in the labyrinth feels a bit like playing Michael Meyers or Ghostface. After Elsa and Jack team up and are caught by Verussa, Elsa fulfills thefinal girl tropepopular in slashers by defeating the cultists, the guards, and Verussa (with quite a bit of help from Ted and Werewolf by Night). She also survives the werewolf, thanks to Jack recognizing her in his wolf form, and becomes the owner of the Bloodstone.
The misunderstood monster trope and the subversion of who the truevillains also madeWerewolf by Nightstand out. Marvel is known for redeeming villains, but in this film, the traditional “villains” (or the monsters Ted and Jack) are actually not antagonists at all. They’re just trying to live their lives, and the bloodthirsty humans hunting them are the real beasts. Karma comes for them in a big, bloody way. This is even a contrast to the popular Blade franchise, where Blade hunts down monsters. Here, the monsters are the victims, which means there should be a great deal of conflict if and when these two Marvel supernatural heroes cross paths.
Werewolf by Nightis loaded with clever references for cinema and Marvel fans alike. Expanding the Marvel universe this way is a big risk for folks like Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, but it was one that paid off. It not only made the supernatural corner of the universe feel fresh and exciting but alsointroduced a new fan-favorite characteraudiences will want to follow for years to come. Loaded with details for anyone watching, there is plenty of fun to be had and references to uncover in this spooky special, making it worthy of rewatch!
